My vision for Harrisburg, looking ahead: Ben Allatt

Editor's note: All four Harrisburg city council candidates on Tuesday's ballot are assured election, as there are four seats to be filled. PennLive invited the four to give our readers a brief statement about their vision and goals for their coming term on council. Here is Ben Allatt's response. Incumbents Wanda Williams and Eugenia Smith did not supply a statement.

Ben AllattDon Gilliland/Pennlive

A new day for Harrisburg city government is quickly approaching. It is my hope that the next city council and mayor form a more collaborative and transparent relationship that replaces the often contentious one we have witnessed in recent years. It is imperative that our leaders come together in order to move Harrisburg forward.

Economic development is very important to me since it is vital to expand the tax base and provide the opportunity for job creation. It is time to engage the business community and work to ensure that Harrisburg is a viable and attractive destination to do business. But this is not without challenges, as there is controversy surrounding what may be the best move forward.

I would like to engage the community and ensure there is enough public discussion surrounding what the right approach is for the city particularly in regards to tax abatement and Keystone Opportunity Zones. This is not to minimize the other major issues such as crime and blight, and each deserves equal attention to resolve, but this can be tackled more effectively through community partnerships and an engaged local government. City Council will need to remain innovative and committed to resolving these and other issues as top priorities.